The Extra Prince Sets Out To Conquer The World

About a week had passed since we left the Constellation Labyrinth Ruin.

Due to the distorted space-time nature of the relic, the time spent inside the Constellation Labyrinth and the time outside had to be different.

While I felt like I had only been in the relic for three or four days, more than a fortnight had passed outside, and it was now August instead of July.

This discrepancy was caused by the time distortion phenomenon becoming more severe the deeper one ventured into the ruins.

As a result, the sweltering heat had enveloped the ruins city.

The southern ruins city of Vahanad was particularly hot, being located in the region influenced by the desert created by the Sage of the Sun.

“Phew~! It’s great to have a cool place to stay!”

Having become drenched in sweat from Nayuta’s training, Gilbert staggered into the inn room, completely exhausted.

Our accommodation maintained a pleasant environment thanks to Biam and Rami controlling the temperature and humidity, and Navi circulating the air.

“You’ve worked hard. How’s the training going?”

In response to my question, Gilbert enthusiastically drew his sword, then cloaked it with a distinct sword aura.

His previously faint and blurred sword aura had become smooth and vibrant, clearly showing his growth.

“Wow! That’s impressive!”

I closed the book I was reading and applauded.

Clap clap clap!

“Heheh! But I’m still far behind Precia.”

Well, compared to that genius among geniuses, anyone would pale in comparison.

Including Vermilion, there might not even be five geniuses in the entire world comparable to Precia in terms of sheer talent alone. And that’s only talking about talent – in terms of actual strength, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say there are no peers of Precia’s age.

“I’ll get stronger too and be of help to you, my lord!”

In fact, among our group, Gilbert could also be considered a genius, even if his benchmark was Precia.

Ordinary knights usually manifest their sword aura only after their forties.

Among them, those called prodigies manifest it in their thirties, and those called geniuses achieve it in their twenties.

Yet Gilbert had achieved such a distinct sword aura in his teens, which was truly remarkable talent.

“I look forward to it.”

I could push him a bit harder then.

At that moment, Nayuta came in looking for Gilbert.

“You little brat, running off! I told you to just change clothes and come right back!”

“Ah! Yes! I’ll change right away!”

Gilbert hurriedly entered his room at Nayuta’s scolding tone.

Watching him, I chuckled.

“How is he doing?”

In response to my question, Nayuta extended her magic barrier to prevent sound from leaking out before answering.

“The brat’s got solid foundations. If I train him rigorously for a few years, he might even reach the level of the 10 Sword Masters Under Heaven before turning thirty?”

“You should tell Gilbert that praise yourself.”

But she shook her head at my suggestion.

“Tch! No way. Then he’ll get cocky and slack off.”

“Hahaha, I suppose so. How about Precia?”

Since leaving the relic, Precia had been sparring with Nayuta and Anastasia every day at full power.

Of course, the two Celestials fought inside the relic to avoid causing any collateral damage.

“That crazy girl who acts like she has nine lives?”

Nayuta commented on Precia’s usual training routine, just like in the novel:

‘Have you seen such a crazy girl?’

At first, Nayuta’s expression had contorted as she tried to stop Precia’s ‘insane’ actions, but eventually gave up dissuading her after seeing Precia go about her daily life and training without issue, watching her like a monster.

“How old did you say she was again?”

“She’ll be sixteen in a few days.”

“Sixteen, huh… Who knows what’ll happen in this world, but if she keeps growing like that, I might have to get serious by the time she’s twenty? That brat Sword Sage has gained an excessively talented disciple. Lucky bastard.”

The Sword Sage Horazon, Precia’s teacher.

“I agree.”

“I’m all changed!”

“Alright then? Let’s go.”

Nayuta quickly took the freshly changed Gilbert and headed to the inn’s backyard for training.

No sooner had Nayuta left did Anastasia enter through the window, suppressing her presence to the utmost.

“Where’s Precia? Did you come alone?”

In response to my question, Anastasia looked at me intently.

“…Just like in the relic, how did you know I had arrived? Yuan.”

“I have keen senses.”

At my answer, Anastasia stared at me for a moment before responding to my question.

“The girl Precia is resting inside the relic, half-exhausted.”

“And the three mages are keeping watch.”

Since the area where Precia and Anastasia had their sparring match was the Ursa Minor area, it must have been devastated by now.

Jade, Abassael, and Silua had accompanied them to observe the restoration process, so even if Precia was exhausted, she would be safe.

Anastasia could enter and exit the relic freely without needing a permit.

She nodded at my inference.

“How is Precia doing?”

“The girl Precia… rather, I’m learning a lot from her. Despite having witnessed countless madnesses, I’m realizing what true madness is.”

No, that’s not what I was asking. Her reactions are just like in the novel.

Whether she understood my thoughts or not, Anastasia changed the subject with her expressionless face.

“Besides, I’d like to hear an answer now.”

An answer?

“Ah, about why Jade is here instead of guarding the dimensional rift in the Bastille Mountains?”

She affirmed with her silence.

“But you could have just asked him directly. Was there a reason you asked me instead?”

In response to my question, Anastasia looked at me for a moment.

“…I thought you would be fine.”

I don’t know what she was thinking during that preceding silence, but it doesn’t seem like anything good.

“Well, alright. It’s not a difficult answer, anyway.”

At my words, Anastasia focused her gaze intently on me.

“The dimensional rift has been safely sealed, and Jade is free. Jade’s teacher and the former Sage of the Winter Tree, Yekatrice, left to seek treatment for her illness after passing on her position to her disciple.”

The heavy pressure I had felt from Anastasia dissipated.

“Treatment for her illness?”

“Yes, according to a ‘Star Reader’, Yekatrice said she had evaded death. Although it seems she heard it secondhand.”

The ‘Star Reader’ was probably ‘Arcana 10, The Wheel’, and the ‘one step’ who conveyed the Wheel’s words was likely ‘Arcana 18, The Moon’.

“…I see.”

Anastasia nodded once and fell silent.

“Given that the magic swords you’ve devoured haven’t gone berserk, it must be good news.”

“……”

Her eyebrows twitched slightly – a significant show of emotion for her.

The reason she always remained expressionless and suppressed her emotions was due to the side effects of devouring the magic swords.

Whenever her emotions, especially negative ones, stirred, the power of the magic swords she had accumulated would go berserk.

In fact, in the novel, when she learned of Yekatrice’s death from Jade, she had gone on a rampage once.

Even she, regarded as one of the ten strongest Celestials in the world, could potentially lose control of that power if she wasn’t careful.

Devouring magic swords was that dangerous, which is why Nayuta was doing her utmost to stop her.

That’s why she couldn’t ask Jade about Yekatrice – Anastasia already knew her ‘fate’.

She must been afraid of getting Jade, as Yekatrice’s successor getting caught up in her rampage.

Conversely, it meant that she didn’t mind if I got caught up in it.

As if reading my thoughts, Anastasia shook her head.

“Not that.”

“What do you mean?”

Feigning ignorance, I asked mischievously, and she slightly opened and closed her eyes.

“I didn’t mean that I’d be fine getting you caught up in my rampage.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I meant that you might be able to avoid my rampage. Moreover, perhaps you could even calm my rampage.”

I was taken aback by Anastasia’s words.

“Me? Aren’t you overestimating me?”

It was an inconceivable notion – how could I possibly subjugate one of the 10 Heavenly Sword Masters?

“Aren’t you the one underestimating yourself?”

I shrugged at her words.

She must be commending my self-objectivity. What could one expect from this frail body?

“Rather than that, shall I tell you where Yekatrice is?”

At my words, Anastasia flinched for a moment.

“…No. How could I dare meet her?”

“Yekatrice must miss you. Shall I at least pass on your well-being when I contact her periodically?”

At my playful question, Anastasia’s brow creased a whopping 2 millimeters.

“Ah! But Jade will handle that, so I don’t need to bother.”

As I snickered, she glared at me with an icy, expressionless look.

“You’re quite fearless, boy.”

“How could that be? My nickname is the Cowardly Prince. I’m such a coward that it’s a flaw.”

The Cowardly Prince was the nickname of ‘Prince Yuan’. Before leaving the palace, I had made good use of that nickname.

As I looked at her with a smiling expression, she stared at me expressionlessly. Was it just my imagination, or did her gaze seem to convey a sense of disbelief?

“You’ll be leaving soon, I presume?”

In response to my question, Anastasia nodded.

“That’s right.”

“Then at least say goodbye to Jade before you go. Family is precious, after all.”

“…Impertinent boy.”

“Well, maybe so. But he’s still your cute little cousin, isn’t he? Even if there’s over half a century’s age difference.”

Although Anastasia and Nayuta appeared to be in their twenties, they were already approaching old age.

“Think about it.”

It seemed she was planning to just leave without seeing him.

“By the way, how did you know about my relationship with Jade and Yekatrice…?”

“Were you hoping I wouldn’t find out, despite you all sharing the same surname?”

At my retort, Anastasia closed her mouth. After a moment of contemplation, she said:

“…Still, it seems you know too much.”

“But you know quite a bit yourself, don’t you?”

She had gained special powers by devouring and extinguishing countless magic swords.

Among them were abilities similar to precognition, if not precognition itself.

While far from being a true prophet, it was an ability that revealed more than one might expect.

In response, Anastasia said as if proving a point:

“Like now. How did you know that I know a lot?”

I smiled wryly at her question.

“Who knows? How did I know? It’s quite mysterious, isn’t it?”

“It seems you have no intention of telling me.”

“You’ve observed correctly.”

As I clapped and affirmed her guess, she lost interest in pursuing the matter further.

“Then I shall take my leave.”

Just as she had entered through the window, Anastasia tried to leave the same way.

“I’ll send you the locations of the magic swords I promised to share simultaneously through the contact method you provided two days from now.”

“Understood.”

“Ah! And here’s a piece of advice as thanks for your help so far – you might get what you want if you head to the capital? This is a secret from the Sword Fairy, by the way.”

In response, Anastasia nodded and offered her own advice:

“Then let me advise you as well, boy. Sometimes, imagination can give you the power to leap over walls.”

With those parting words, she leaped out the window.

Looking outside, Anastasia had already vanished, like a shimmering mirage in the sunlight.

TN: We’re about halfway through the chapters that are out right now 200/407